DALY IS NAMED COACH OF OLYMPIC HOOP TEAM

Chuck Daly, who guided the Detroit Pistons to consecutive NBA championships, today was named coach of the 1992 Olympic men's basketball team.

Kentucky athletic director C.M. Newton, chairman of the USA Basketball Games Committee, made the announcement at a news conference.The 1992 Olympics will be the first in which NBA players will be allowed to participate. The U.S. team is expected to have at least nine NBA players and perhaps three college players. Daly will have a hand, but not the final say in that process.

"Whoever they select, the talent will be there," Daly said.

Daly virtually guaranteed a gold medal for the United States team, which has not fared well in recent years in international competition. John Thompson of Georgetown coached the 1988 team to a bronze medal at the Seoul Olympics.

"Knowing the players, with their ability, they'll have some fun with it," Daly said. "But they'll want the gold medal, too."